Seat layout guide
Shinkansen Seat Letters Explained
Understand Shinkansen seat letters A, B, C, D and E, including which seats are windows, aisles, and usually best for Mt. Fuji views.
Quick answer
- A and E are window seats in most Ordinary Cars.
- C and D are aisle seats.
- Seat E is usually the Mt. Fuji-side window on the Tokaido Shinkansen.
- Green Car layouts differ — usually 2+2, no Seat E.
- Always check the seat map before booking.
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Use the free checker to see which seat letter faces Mt. Fuji for your direction.
Ordinary Car: 3+2 layout (A B C | D E)
Most Tokaido Shinkansen Ordinary Cars have five seats per row: three on one side (A, B, C) and two on the other (D, E), separated by an aisle.
| Seat | Type | Tokaido side | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Window | Sea side (opposite Fuji) | Window with ocean-side views |
| B | Middle | — | Between A and C; no direct window |
| C | Aisle | — | Aisle seat, three-seat side |
| D | Aisle | — | Aisle seat, two-seat side. Green Car Fuji window. |
| E | Window | Mt. Fuji side | Best seat for Mt. Fuji in Ordinary Cars |
Green Car: 2+2 layout (A B | C D)
Green Cars (first class) have wider seats in a 2+2 configuration. There is no Seat E. The layout is A–B on one side and C–D on the other, with A and D as window seats.
On the Tokaido Shinkansen, the Mt. Fuji-side window in Green Cars is usually Seat D. Seat A is the sea-side window.
Other Shinkansen lines
Seat letter layouts vary by train type and line. The Tokaido Shinkansen (Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka) consistently uses the 3+2 Ordinary Car layout described above. Other lines (Tohoku, Hokuriku, Sanyo) may have different configurations — always check the seat map for your specific train.
FAQ
- What do the letters A, B, C, D, E mean on the Shinkansen?
- In Ordinary Cars with 3+2 seating, seats A, B, C are on the three-seat side and D, E are on the two-seat side. A and E are window seats; C and D are aisle seats; B is a middle seat.
- Which seat letter is best for Mt. Fuji?
- On the Tokaido Shinkansen, Seat E is usually the Mt. Fuji-side window in Ordinary Cars. In Green Cars (2+2), the Fuji-side window is Seat D.
- Is Seat A a window seat?
- Yes. In most Ordinary Cars, Seat A is a window seat on the opposite side from E. On the Tokaido Shinkansen, Seat A faces the sea side, not Mt. Fuji.
- Are Green Car seat letters different?
- Yes. Green Cars typically use a 2+2 layout with seats A, B (one side) and C, D (other side). There is no Seat E. The Fuji-side window is usually D.
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